[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 222 (Tuesday, November 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61495-61497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30171]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of an altered record system.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force proposes to alter a system of
records notice in its inventory of record systems subject to the
Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.
DATES: The alteration will be effective on December 18, 1997, unless
comments are received that would result in a contrary determination.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Air Force Access Programs Manager,
Headquarters, Air Force Communications and Information Center/ITC, 1250
Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-1250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anne Rollins at (703) 697-8674 or
DSN 227-8674.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Navy's record system
notices for records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5
U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the Federal Register
and are available from the address above.
The proposed altered system report, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r)
of the Privacy Act was submitted on November 3, 1997, to the House
[[Page 61496]]
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130,
`Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About
Individuals,' dated February 8, 1996, (61 FR 6427, February 20, 1996).
Dated: November 10, 1997.
L. M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
F044 AF SG K
system name:
Medical Professional Staffing Records (June 11, 1997, 62 FR 31793).
changes:
* * * * *
Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories
of users and the purposes of such uses:
Add a new paragraph `Records concerning civilian consultants or
contractors who engage in direct patient care may be released to
civilian organizations employing said civilian consultants or
contractors providing direct patient care to eligible beneficiaries if
such records are necessary to evaluate the civilian consultant or
contractor in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1102(c)(E).'
* * * * *
F044 AF SG K
System name:
Medical Professional Staffing Records.
System location:
At Air Force medical centers, hospitals, and clinics; all health
facilities where graduate health education programs are conducted;
reserve NAFs/Surgeon's Office; reserve tactical hospitals/clinics,
reserve MSES, and reserve AAG medical elements.
Categories of individuals covered by the system:
Practitioners, who are, or have been, members of the USAF Medical
Service, Civil Service Employees (including civilian consultants who
engage in direct patient care), or contractors who are assigned to,
employed by, or practice in the Air Force medical facility for the
purpose of providing health services for eligible beneficiaries; United
States Air Force Medical Service personnel pursuing graduate health
education programs.
Categories of records in the system:
(1) Credential review files: Contains curriculum vitae, list of
approved privileges, copies of diplomas and certificates, records of
continuing health education training, letters of evaluation, summaries
of special activities or other information, including malpractice
claims reports, furnished or solicited in order to fully evaluate the
professional qualifications of individuals, and the records of any
actions taken on the individual's credentials.
(2) Health education records: Applications for training, training
reports, Faculty Board reports, photograph or negative, and personnel
documents related to training.
Authority for maintenance of the system:
10 U.S.C. Chapter 55, Medical and Dental Care; medical specialists,
as implemented by Air Force Instruction 44-119, Quality Assurance in
the Air Force Medical Service.
Purpose(s):
The information contained in credential review files is used to
award, limit, suspend, restrict or revoke the inpatient and ambulatory
clinical privileges to all categories of health practitioners.
Health education records are used to permit evaluations of
individuals in training, by program directors, in managing the
individual in training; by the record maintenance personnel, to
document changes to the individual's personnel record maintained by the
servicing Consolidated Base Personnel Office (CBPO).
Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories
of users and the purposes of such uses:
In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C.
552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained
therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:
The information may also be released to a governmental board or
agency or health care professional society or organization if such
record of document is needed to perform licensing or professional
standards monitoring related to health care practitioners who are or
were formerly members, employees of the Armed Forces, or contractors,
and to medical institutions or organizations wherein such member,
employee or contractor has applied for or been granted authority or
employment to provide health care services if such record or document
is needed to assess the professional qualifications of such member or
employee.
Records concerning civilian consultants or contractors who engage
in direct patient care may be released to civilian organizations
employing said civilian consultants or contractors providing direct
patient care to eligible beneficiaries if such records are necessary to
evaluate the civilian consultant or contractor in accordance with 10
U.S.C. 1102(c)(E).
The `Blanket Routine Uses' published at the beginning of the Air
Force's compilation of systems of records notices apply to this system.
Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining,
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
Maintained in file folders and visible file binders/cabinets.
Retrievability:
Retrieved by name.
Safeguards:
Records are accessed by custodian of the record system, by
person(s) responsible for servicing the record system in performance of
their official duties; by commanders of USAF medical centers hospitals
and clinics (credential review files); by program directors, trainees
and personnel managers with the need-to-know (health education
records).
Retention and disposal:
(1) Credential review files are retained in the office files of the
medical facility where the practitioner is assigned, employed, or
practicing. Following separation, resignation, or retirement, the files
are retained at the location of the last duty assignment for a period
of 3 years and then are destroyed.
(2) Health education files are retained by the director of health
education until training is completed, files are then kept by the
health facility for 30 years and then destroyed by tearing into pieces,
shredding, pulping, macerating, or burning; if facility is deactivated,
the records are retired to the Washington National Records Center,
Washington, DC 20409 to be retained until the 30-year period has
expired at which time they will be destroyed.
System manager(s) and address:
The Surgeon General, Headquarters, United States Air Force;
Commanders of medical centers, hospitals, clinics. Official mailing
addresses are published as an appendix to the Air Force's compilation
of systems of records notices.
[[Page 61497]]
For health education records, individuals should give full name,
military status, Social Security Number, when they entered training and
completed training, and what corps within the medical service they are
a member. Individuals may visit either the health facility maintaining
the records or the Office of the Surgeon, Air Force Manpower and
Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, TX to learn if the record
system contains their records. When visiting either of these locations,
the individual must provide a valid drivers license or equivalent
identification containing a photograph to establish identity.
Notification procedure:
Individuals seeking to determine whether information about
themselves is contained in this system should address written inquiries
to or visit the system manager.
Record access procedures:
Individuals seeking access to information about themselves
contained in this system should address written inquiries to or visit
the system manager. For health education records, individual may obtain
assistance by writing or presenting themselves in person to the health
facility where the records are maintained. Official mailing addresses
are published as an appendix to the Air Force's compilation of systems
of records notices.
Contesting record procedures:
The Air Force rules for accessing records, and for contesting
contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in
Air Force Instruction 37-132; 32 CFR part 806b; or may be obtained from
the system manager.
Record source categories:
Credential review files: Basic information submitted by the
practitioner. Additional information may be solicited from other
sources in order to permit the credentials committee to best judge the
capabilities of the practitioner. Health education records: Previous
employer, educational institutions, master personnel record,
information provided by the individual concerned.
Exemptions claimed for the system:
None.
[FR Doc. 97-30171 Filed 11-17-97; 8:45 am]
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